EPILOGUE

Kaoru rushed into the bright living room of their apartment frantically laughing and yelling for Kenshin.

"KENSHIN! KENSHIN! COME QUICK!" she ran inside dropping her school bag and books on the table.

An apron-clag red head peaked from inside the kitchen with a spatula in hand as he rushed over to her. "What's wrong? Someone tried to talk to you again?" he asked worried and angry. He was always concerned about someone trying to talk or flirt with her.

Kaoru burst into laughter at the sight of her knight in shining armor. "Are you gonna' go fight them with your wooden spatula and apron? Oh yea, I can just see you beating them off of me…" she chuckled holding her stomach.

Kenshin quickly removed the apron and discarded it and the spatula on the table as well. "For your information I was trying to prepare a nice dinner for us when you came bursting inside hollering my name. What happened?"

She cleared her throat and giggled slightly, "Look!" she excitedly waved a paper in his face.

Kenshin took the paper from her and she bounced up and down in front of him in glee. After scanning the letter for a few moments, he looked up and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Congratulations Dr. Kamiya" he whispered in her ear.

She laughed and pulled away from him slightly although he stubbornly still held her in his arms. "It's just an internship for now. But it's paid and it's at the hospital right near here! I'm no where near being a doctor just yet!"

"It's still very impressive. You beat out a lot of people for that position" he replied before placing a kiss on her lips.

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It'd been a year since the two had married and moved in together. The ceremony was traditional and in Kenshin's opinion a bit too long. All he wanted was a quick ring exchange some prayers and to run off with his new bride. But to appease his family and of course the blushing bride herself, he sat through the long, traditional, drawn-out rituals.

Kenshin had decidedly rebuilt broken ties with his father, especially after Hiko had helped in bringing the two families together. Father and son weren't exactly the spitting image of a perfect family, but to everyone's delight they were well on their way.

Everyone including Misao, Sano, Aoshi and most of the school along with families of both bride and groom, attended the party after the wedding ceremony. College had started and the friends went in different directions to peruse their future goals. Misao and Kaoru would get together on some weekends to go out. Sano and Kenshin would attend car shows, races and other events together. Yahiko had even started high school and was well on his way to making a name from himself through his kendo competitions.

Kaoru's mind was always on either school, Kenshin or her family and friends. Her days were filled to the brim with something to do and never a dull moment. After the wedding she had visited her parent's home to find her father was clean and sober for almost 2 months.

At first even after the wedding father and daughter were on frosty terms. She couldn't forgive him for the hell he put them through and he was entirely too stubborn to admit his faults. What perfect images they were of each other, both equally stubborn.

Father's day came and went and Kaoru decided to send him a very poignant card to express the feelings that she couldn't possibly say aloud to him.

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Dad,

Despite everything we've been through and all the times we've made each other angry, I love you. I'll always be the little girl you took to Kendo lessons with you and looked at with such pride and joy. I'll always be the little girl that thought of you as the smartest, strongest and best father in the world.

Regardless of my decisions in life and the fact that I have not a single regret, I wanted you to know how much I really love you no matter what. I looked up to you and still do even today.

I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me and we'll be able to move past our differences. I hope that one day you'll see me again as you little girl. The very same one that wanted nothing more than to be her father's pride and joy always.

Dad I will always respect and honor you and regardless of the horrible things we say and do each other. We're bound together by blood and nothing could be stronger.

Love,

Kaoru

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It'd been nearly a year since he had his last sip of alcohol. There would be periods of regression, but his family was always there as before to pull him back up. His body was substantially weaker because of all the physical and mental abuse, but he was able to at least get around if not participate in physical activities like his beloved martial arts.

The teary-eyed man put the simple maroon and gold card down. He removed his glasses and rubbed at his teary brown eyes. He put the card down on the coffee table before him as his wife walked in with a tray of tea and crackers for the afternoon.

She lay the tray down on the table and sat down besides her husband noticing his sudden need to rub at his eyes.

"I see you read your daughters card" she spoke gently and handed him a tissue.

He pretended not to need it, but eventually did take it to blow his nose. He said nothing.

"She's been asking when we'll come over to see her apartment you know. She said you never came once after the wedding." The woman set about making their teas as the man stared at the card on the table. "Despite everything whenever I call her she asks about you. And every time she does I can hear the hitch in her voice as if she's at the edge of tears. You know she's still your daughter and she loves you very much."

She handed her husband the cup of tea and looked up at him. He didn't even make eye contact and grumpily replied, "And she thinks I don't?"

The woman smiled slightly, warmed by her husbands words, "You two are just as stubborn as each other you know that?"

"She's starting an internship soon at the local hospital. Kenshin is well on his way to graduating early even now and seems to have quite a future at the law firm he's working at. It would be so nice to go and visit them don't you think dear?" the woman sipped her tea silently.

The brown-eyed man looked at the card from over his tea cup as he took another sip and simply grunted, "Hmph."

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Kaoru walked out of the shower, her wet hair clinging down her back and in her comfortable sweats and t-shirt. She walked shaking the excess water from her tresses and was grabbed from behind as two arms snaked their way around her waist.

"Kenshin!" she giggled as her body was pressed against his and he nuzzled her neck.

"I can't help it you always smell so great" he didn't let her budge from his hold.

She turned around in his hold and faced him, "Why are you being so nice?"

"Why? Can't I be nice to my one and only wife?" he mocked hurt.

"Sure, but usually there's a catch in it for me!" she retorted.

Kenshin smiled slyly and placed a few kisses on her lips before answering, "I have a surprise for you, but you'll have to get ready first. Go change."

She gave him a curious look before smelling the fragrances wafting from the kitchen, "I thought I was going to cook tonight? I knew it! You hate my cooking!"

Kenshin tightened his grasp on her, "Shh, it's not that. I said I had a surprise for you and it involves some food so come on before you ruin my plans!"

Kaoru pouted slightly and Kenshin kissed away her worries. She pranced off into bedroom happily wondering what he had planned.

"What should I wear?" he heard her call out to him as he stirred something in the pot.

He mentally grinned and was tempted to say 'nothing' but quickly decided against it. "Something decent and clean will do. We're staying in."

After a few minutes she emerging wearing a comfortable pair of dark jeans and simple white, eye-knit cotton shirt. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun which only made her look more adorable than ever. She'd walked into the kitchen and was smelling every dish he'd prepared.

He looked over at her out of the corner of his eyes and wondered how she could keep him tantalized even after being together for so long. "Witchcraft" he muttered, smiling to himself.

"So what's this surprise?" she asked unaware of his thoughts.

"You'll see" he teased.

She was just about to start off on a tirade about him always keeping her in suspense when their phone rung. Kenshin quickly answered and she heard him say "Sure send them up."

"We're expecting company?" she asked as Kenshin hung up.

He grinned at her, "Of course otherwise I would've suggested we eat in the nude!"

Kaoru fought a faint burning and reddening in her cheeks as she smiled, "Damn him for making me blush even now!"

Their apartment doorbell rung and Kenshin rushed over pulling her alongside him. She was a bit surprised at this and looked at him anxiously. He made notice of her expression and merely opened the door.

Kaoru's jaw dropped at the sight before her. "Mom? Dad? Yahiko?" she managed to squeak.

Kenshin smiled brightly as he hugged her mother, gave Yahiko's head a ruffling and bowed to her father. The group walked in and Kaoru was speechless as her mother gave her a long hug and Yahiko said something smart before plopping down in front of the TV on their couch.

She turned and saw her father looking around the apartment in deep thought. Her mother touched her arm, "It was his idea to come" whispered.

Kaoru's heart fluttered and soared as she shot her mother a smile. She saw Kenshin looking back at her and he smiled back.

"Mr. Kamiya, you should see the view from the balcony. Why don't I show you? Yahiko wanna see?" Kenshin exclaimed.

Kaoru turned to her mother who was happily searching around the kitchen to set the table. She walked over to help her.

"Things aren't perfect and I'm sure they'll never be, but life is good right now" she looked up to see the boys walking into the kitchen.

"It's a nice view Kaoru, but just so pricey for this place" her father commented.

She smiled happily between him and Kenshin. "No, it's great!"

THE END

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Special thanks go out to ALL my faithful readers and reviewers. Thanks for always being there and encouraging me! You guys are the best. 3NAJ thank you for everything and hopefully in the future there will be a spin off of some sort. You're really inspiring me towards one!

Also thanks Antica and Rei, you guys are great for helping out!

The story was left as is because I really can't give a neat, gift-wrap ending. I don't think there is such a thing as a completely happy ending. You just have to deal with life as it goes along and so will Kaoru and Kenshin. Hopefully when my story progresses, this one will too!

Love to all…

See ya in the next fic...

Dee